The Discover Your Passion $20,000 Scholarship Fund

Does your child have a passion that they would like to pursue further? Music? Soccer? Science? Drawing? Video Game Design? Debate?

If they are in 2nd to 8th grades, then they are eligible for the second annual Michael Perelstein Memorial Scholarship Fund’s Discover Your Passion™Competition. The deadline for applications in September 15, 2014.

The Discover Your Passion™ Competition, administered byThe School Choice Group in partnership with The Parents of Accelerated Learners, NYC [PALNYC] , encourages parents, students, teachers and schools to identify and showcase exemplary creativity, intellectual pursuits and talent of school children. The competition also attempts to bring to the foreground the full range of what talent can be – from the academically advanced “how does it work?” student to the child who loves animals and has the potential to harness that passion to be the next Temple Grandin or Jane Goodall.

The competitionoffers New York City-based students an opportunity to explore their unique gifts, talents and passions in an area of their choice. The $20,000 Scholarship Fund will be awarded to children who show exceptional promise in academic fields, sports, music, the arts, social entrepreneurship, technology or other disciplines. The Grand Prize Winner receives $5000 toward the pursuit of his or her choice; 3 Second Place Winners receive $3500, and 3 Third Place Winners receive $1500, for a total of $20,000. Finalists will be selected from the two categories: Grades 2-5 and 6-8. The scholarship winners will be announced and awarded their prizes in October in New York City. For complete information about the scholarship and to apply see schoolchoicegroup.com. To read about the 2013 scholarship winners, please see Finding Schools on Blogger.

Support may be provided for any activities identified by the student, from travel, to mentorships, to attendance at relevant programs, to online courses, or equipment for the specific use of that child toward his or her desired goal. Use of these funds is not prescribed by the program, but they must be designed to support the child’s passion. For the musically talented child, for example, the award could support lessons with a noted music instructor, or participation in an elite ensemble.

Elizabeth Perelstein, the Chair and Founder for the School Choice Group, established this scholarship fund last year to honor her late husband, Michael Perelstein. Michael died at 56 years old, while he was riding with the Westchester Cycle Club, one of his personal passions. A child of Holocaust survivors, Michael was directed by his parents to consider career and life choices based on practical or financial reasons, and not by his personal interests and unique talents. The Perelstein children followed a different path, pursuing their own passions yet still achieving financial security. Michael then realized the true importance of nurturing passion and talent and even changed careers to support his own. As a result, supporting the passions and talents of children is the mission of The Michael Perelstein Memorial Scholarship Fund.